Improvement in hay-presses



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC H. JOHNSON, OF LONG REACH, WEST VIRGINIA.l

IM PROVEM ENT` IN HAY-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,331, dated August 21, 1866.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC H. JOHNSON, of Long Reach, Tyler county, in the State of WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Press; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists in certain devices, hereinafter fully described, for use in a doubleacting cider, hay, or other similar press.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view, in perspective, of the invention. Figs. 2 and 8 are also perspective views of parts of the invention, showing the box and follower. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a part of the invention, showing the arrangement of the operating-gear.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the foundation of the frame in which the machine works, being stout planking or other equivalent basis, in which are set, by means of mortises and tenons, four posts, B, in a square, on which are fitted, at their tops, plates G and cross-beams J of suitable dimensions. The inner sides of the posts B are c ut away, as shown at t, Fig. l, sufficiently to aiford space at the points of intersection of the posts with the foundation for the location of two cross-timbers, p, of a width about equal to that of the parts of the posts removed, which serve as supports to other timbers, g, of equal dimensions, placed upon the timbers p at right angles, at intervals of convenient width, in order to form a grating for the passage of the expressed juice of apples or other crop. Resting upon the frame-work g is the box I I', intended to contain the material to be pressed. The ends of the sides I and I are dovetailed, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the side I may be easily removed for convenience in iilling and emptying the box, or to enable the other sides to be also withdrawn when it is desired.

Sreprcsents three fixed screws placed in an isosceles triangle, two of them passing, one at each corner, through one side of the follower F, and the third through the opposite side.

The follower F is made to ascend and descend by the rotation of these screws, which have their bearings at the-top in the plates O and one of the cross-beams J, and at the bottom in the foundation A. Each screw is prolonged above the said plates and beam, so as to form a shaftfor the cog-wheels D and d, which rest on the said plates and beam.

G represents a large cog-wheel placed above the cog-wheels D and between and gearing' with the cog-wheels d. m represents a small cog-wheel placed below the cog-wheel G and between and gearing with the cog-wheels D. Both G and m are upon the same shaft, h, which is stepped in the cross-beam J', Fig. 4, is provided with a feather, n, and is movable upward and downward within such limits that thefeather a may be made to enga-ge with a corresponding groove in either of the cogwheels G or m at pleasure. When it is made to engage with the latter, and motion is communicated from the motive power through the arms g to the shaft h and transmitted through the small wheel m to the wheels D, a comparatively slow movement is produced, attended with a force proportionately great. This movement is made use of in the latter part of the pressing operation, when the greatest force is required. When, on the other hand, the feather a is made to engage with the wheel G, and motion is communicated from the motive power and transmitted through the wheel G to the small wheels d. a comparatively rapid movement is produced, attended with a force proportionately small. This movementis made use of in the earlier part of the pressing operation, when the least force is required, and also in raising or lowering the follower when there is nothing to be pressed.

The shaft h is raised by turning the lever l, Fig. l, which is attached to and rotates the sleeve c, surrounding the shaft h, and forces it up the circular inclined plane b, also surrounding the shaft h and rigidly attached to the arms a. The sleeve c, thus forced to ascend, comes in contact with and raises lthe arms g, which elevate the shaft It until the sleeve c reaches the summit of the inclined plane b, by

which time the feather n is completely engaged with the wheel G and free from the wheel m. Further rotation of the sleeve c forces it oil` the summit of the inclined plane b, when it drops immediately to its original position and restores the connection between the feather u` andthe small wheel m. Whichever of the two wheels the shaft h may be engaged with, m0- tion is always transmitted to each of the three screws S at exactly the same instant. and ceases in each at precisely the same moment, so that the follower is made to travel always truly and evenly, is capable of being made to move faster or slower at any point of its play at pleasure, and can be stopped in every part at the same second of time. It is also to be observed that while material is being pressed at one side of the follower fresh material may be introduced at the other side, to be acted on by the follower on its return.

I do not conine myself to the precise form of press here shown-and described.

What I claim as new, and desire 1o secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A doubleacting` press consisting of a follower working in a box in either direction on three horizontal or perpendicular fixed screws, the force and velocity of which machine are capable of being varied within certain limits at pleasure, in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. Providing a press constructed as described with a grating, g, arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

This specilication signed and witnessed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1866.

ISAAC H. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses Y J. J. PARKER, EDGAR J PARKER. 

